ARGUABLY the greatest catch in Big Bash League history has powered the Adelaide Strikers to a 26-run victory over the Melbourne Renegades.

In trouble at 4-100 in the 16th over, chasing 174 to win, the Renegades needed something special from Dwayne Bravo (4 off 3) but instead it was Ben Laughlin and Jake Weatherald who produced the game’s most remarkable moment.

The West Indian connected sweetly with a drive off leg-spinner Rashid Khan and it looked six for all money off the bat, only for Laughlin to sprint back to long-off and take the catch over his shoulder. Realising his pace was going to take him over the ropes, Laughlin backhanded the ball roughly 20 metres, picking out Weatherald who completed the catch at full dive - WATCH THE FREAKISH CATCH BELOW!

“We have seen the greatest outfield catch ever taken,” added Damien Fleming. “Wow that is amazing”

“That is near unbelievable,” a near speechless Brendon McCullum concluded.

The dismissal proved the final nail in the Renegades’ chase, with Kieron Pollard (18 off 12) holing out off Laughlin (2-17 off four) in the next over. Jack Wildermuth (3 off 5) then came and went before Brad Hodge (29 off 18 not out) dented Michael Neser’s figures (0-46 off four) to drag the Renegades to a total of 7-146.

The Renegades had started their chase positively, racing to 33 in the first four overs before Peter Siddle had Tim Ludeman (14 off 11) caught behind by Alex Carey. From there the home side’s chase slowed to a crawl. Failing to regain the momentum he had begun his innings with, Marcus Harris (25 off 31) skied Billy Stanlake (2-22 off four) to square leg where Carey took a great catch on the dive, having covered plenty of ground.

Cameron White’s tough week with the bat then continued, falling to a Rashid wrong’un for 17 off 23, before Stanlake returned to remove Tom Cooper (24 off 16)

Earlier, a blazing cameo from Colin Ingram powered the Adelaide Strikers to a total of 5-173 after the Renegades elected to bowl first.

Having lost Jake Weatherald (3 off 9) in the third over to Chris Tremain, the Strikers struggled to get going in the powerplay. Then just as Carey started to get going he skewed Jack Wildermuth to deep point to fall for 32 off 24.

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Carey’s dismissal brought Ingram to the middle, with the Strikers 2-59 after 9.3 overs.

Alongside captain Travis Head, the South African steadied the ship before turning it on in the final three overs.

The left-hander signalled his intent off Kane Richardson’s second ball in the 18th over, swatting him over mid-wicket for his first six. The next ball was lap swept for four and the one after whipped from outside off over mid-wicket.

Head fell in the next over for 58 off 47 to Kieron Pollard (1-20 off two overs) — on debut for the Renegades — but the captain’s dismissal did little to tame Ingram who helped himself to another two sixes before the end of the over.

There would be one final six from the Adelaide import, who fell on the penultimate ball of the innings from Dwayne Bravo (2-30 off four overs). Ingram was caught on the juggle by White at point, and a ball later Brad Hogg took a juggling catch of his own to remove Jake Lehmann for a golden duck.

Despite the loss, the Renegades remain favourites to finish fourth in the BBL.

The Renegades have picked up eight points from eight matches, and are ahead of both the Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat on net run rate.

The Thunder and Heat have a game each left in their regular season campaigns — both against the Renegades — while the Melbourne side has two games to go.

POLLARD AND STRIKERS TRADE SEND-OFFS

Playing his first game for the Melbourne Renegades, Pollard stuck a big blow against his former team when he removed Head. The West Indian marquee left the commentators scratching their heads with his wicket celebration, counting to 10 on his fingers for no apparent reason.

Of course, when Pollard fell in the Renegades’ innings the Strikers had to re-enact the celebration, with Jake Lehmann counting the big hitting all-rounder out as soon as he pouched the catch in the deep. So too did bowler Laughlin.

So was there a story behind the tete-a-tete? Apparently not.

“No background (behind it),” Head told Channel 10 after the game. “I’ve seen it in the Caribbean a few times. A few guys have used it so I’ll let him know that it was a bit of a used gag – it’s very unlike him to do that.

“We’ve played together for a few seasons and it was very friendly banter. I don’t know what he was trying to do there. I think he’s only got me twice so he added a bit of tax on it I think.”